In one of the most dramatic encounters of the Slovenia Cup round, Salonit Anhovo pushed ACH Ljubljana to the limit but ultimately fell 2-3 (set scores: ...) on 28 November 2019. The home side showed tremendous fighting spirit, twice taking the lead in the match, only for the experienced ACH Ljubljana side to level and then clinch the decisive fifth set in a tense finish.

A five-set thriller

Salonit Anhovo came out firing, using the energy of their home crowd to establish an early advantage. Their outside hitters found gaps in the ACH block, while a solid reception allowed the setter to run a varied offence. However, ACH Ljubljana showcased their trademark resilience, tightening their defence and raising their service pressure at crucial moments. Each time Salonit looked ready to close out the match, ACH found an answer, forcing the tie-break where their big-match experience proved decisive.

Implications for both teams

While Salonit Anhovo will rue the missed opportunity after such a spirited display, they earned respect for pushing one of Slovenia’s top volleyball clubs to the brink. For ACH Ljubljana, the five-set victory underlined their title credentials in the Slovenia Cup and demonstrated their ability to win even when not at their brilliant best. With the return leg looming, this result gave ACH a crucial edge in the two-legged cup tie.